April 2, 1986
Sirius strutted down the corridor as he entered a sort of lobby. The Potter architecture firm was an enormous building, good thing he knew just where he was heading. He had visited James´s office far too many time. In fact James and he, have been in that same office when the company was still run by Fleamont Potter, their dad. Two high school kids messing around the halls and toying with the printer. “Those were the days” Sirius thought as he approached the big glass doors that led to the reception.
Due to this doors, Sirius was able to see the new receptionist before he actually entered the room. The receptionist gave him a quick look, then glance down at his computer screen. Back again to him and the duck his head continuing his work. Sirius stood frozen with his hand on the door knob. Never he ever seen such a beautiful human being. The young handsome man had fluffy curly hair. The color of it matched his honey brown eyes. And even with his nose stuck to the screen Sirius could see and interesting scar crossing his nose and part of his cheek and multiple freckles that cover his face.
Sirius felt a sort of electricity rose through his body. He could feel the heat reaching the back of his neck. His cheeks. His ears. And so, he did the most reasonable thing a 26 year old does in this situations. He opened the door and practically ran directly to James´s office. He didn´t stop at the front desk, but in his defense the cute receptionist didn´t stop him either.
“Holly hell! Who the fuck is that?” asked Sirius as soon as he had closed James´s door.
James lifted his gaze from the papers lying in front of him. He looked at his friend form above his glasses with a lopsided smile.
“My assistant. And new receptionist” answered his brother.
“Wow! He is just so… wow” Sirius peek thought the window blinds. The guy wasn´t hunched over anymore. He was attending a call and though he wasn´t laughing Sirius felt his heart give a slight tug at the sight of his discreet smile.
“His name is Remus” James tone was aiming for a casual one. “He is 25 actually. Pretty good at his job, single, always anticipates my request, very efficient – “
“What was that?” Sirius head snapped back to his dark haired friend.
“Efficient?”
“Single”
“Oh. Yeah.” Replied James smirking into his mug.
Sirius didn´t ask any other questions. With a giddy heart pumping against his ears he sat down to have a talk with James about their family trip that weekend, which was the reason Sirius had come in the first place. But as Sirius left the office, he knew he would be coming back to James´s office more often.
Unfortunately for him, the receptionist had an odd behavior towards him. When Sirius came back three days later, the receptionist ducked his head like he had done the first day. Then, when Sirius made his way out, Remus was no were to be seen. He returned a few times. The day he manage to make eye contact with him Remus did returned his smile. That made Sirius day, but the raven haired boy still couldn’t figure out why in the bloody hell Remus wouldn´t even give him the time of day. He seemed friendly, maybe a bit shy or mysterious but he definitely wasn´t a dick.
“I´ll just have to impress him” Sirius said to himself one day. And so it began a parade of Sirius attempts to woo James´s cute receptionist.
April 7, 1986.
Sirius walked in with a black skirt, blue nail polish and eyeliner. Remus spat his coffee but didn´t said a word.
April 18, 1986.
Sirius came in with roller skaters, a tank top and very, and I mean, very, short shorts. Remus choked on a cookie he was nibbling on. Sirius almost felt on the roller skaters. Remus stood up unsure to help. He hit a photograph off his desk. It was him with a big black dog.
April 27, 1986
Sirius offered his neighbors to take their dogs for a walk, so he entered the building with seven dogs. They were pulling him strongly. He barely had time to greet Remus. He made Remus laughed and he spent the rest of his week daydreaming about the other boy´s laughter.
May 5, 1986
He appeared at the building in sweat pants and a messy bun. Not his proudest outfit but Harry wouldn’t stop crying and as much as he hated to interrupt James at his work he was even more scare of interrupting Lily at her work. Inside the office James and Sirius finally put Harry to sleep. On his way out Remus gave him a thumbs up and a tiny amused smile.
May 12, 1986
Sirius strutted with fake confidence into the lobby of the Potter´s building wearing tight black jeans, a David Bowie t-shirt, his favorite Docs and his iconic leather jacket.
“Mr. Potter isn´t here, but I´ll open his office for you.” Said Remus as soon as Sirius arm touched the front desk. He stood up and left.
Sirius was left dumb stroked. Remus had a sweet yet deep voice. And when he stood up Sirius could appreciate the height of the guy. He was tall and kind of lanky in and oddly endearing way. Sirius held to the front desk for dear life. But, hey, it was progress. Remus had actually said something to him.
June 2, 1986
Sirius felt rather good that day. He was wearing white trousers a silk pink button down and with fur boa and his cheeks sported a rainbow. Remus mouth literally hung opened the minute Sirius step in front of the crystal door.
“Hi.” Said Sirius resting one of his elbows on the desk and leaning towards Remus.
The shorter boy was trying to sound seductive; using that charming tone he often used in the bars, however he couldn´t think of anything else to say when he saw to things: first Remus sat up straight an blush furiously. The second thing Sirius noted was the little rainbow pin Remus had attached to his shabby brown blazer.
“Hey.” Said Remus sheepishly. “Oh. Uh. Sorry… I mean… I´ll tell Mr. Potter you are here.”
“No need Remus. And call me James” said the bespectacled man appearing from his office. James was wearing a tacky black t-shirt that read “proud ally” in different lbgt+ flag colors. “We´ll come back later, Remus. If you want to leave early that´s okay but make sure you close up.”
Remus nodded, still looking at Sirius. James look from Remus to Sirius then from Sirius to Remus. He rolled his eyes and let out a genuine laugh.
July 10 1986
“You looked nice last week.” Said Remus when Sirius arrived. He tried to sound nonchalant but the crimson on his ears were giving him away and both men knew it.
“Thanks. I liked your pin too. You look very p-“
“There you are!” greeted Lily with a big kiss on the cheek.” Hi Remus, how´s it going?”
“Hi Lils. Everything good, how´s Harry?”
Sirius exchanged a confused look between Remus and Lily. Did they already knew each other? Seemed that way. Sirius, Lily and James left the building. The Potters gave Sirius a knowing look when he turned to wave goodbye at Remus.
August 6, 1986
Sirius changed his tactics. Maybe he had to be a little more direct.
“Nice swatter, Remus.” He casually said while walking past him.
As soon as he was out of the other boy´s view he ran towards James office.
“James!” Sirius screamed.
“I saw!” screamed back James jumping from his seat.
“You saw?!”
James smiled cynically. The bastard was peeking through the blinds. Both boys hugged each other. Sirius had come with the sole purpose to say that line to Remus but since he couldn´t left that fast he spent the rest of the morning bothering his best mate at work. Or rather he and James spent all the morning call pranking some interns.
He winked at Remus on his way out.
August 10, 1986
Sirius walked once again through the glass doors. Remus was gathering some papers. He was standing up, towering over them. He wasn´t wearing his usual blazer and Sirius could see just how fit he was underneath his blue button down. Sirius gulped before opening the door.
Remus looked up.
“Looking good, Black.” Sirius had never seen Remus smile so confidently.
Remus took some papers and walked pass him. Sirius melted on the spot and James, Lily and Regulus didn´t heard the end of it for two whole weeks.
This little parade went on from August to October.
October 28, 1986.
“Fucking hell Sirius if you don´t ask him to the Halloween party I will.” Snaped James exasperated.
“Ah! You wouldn´t!” mocked Sirius with a dramatically offended tone. James, however, didn´t laugh. “You got Lily, or will I be going with her?” tried again. James remained serious. “Fine. I´ll ask him out Prongs. Just stop looking at me like that.”
“I know it´s scary. I know you are the one who gets asked out but I think this guy is really worth it.” James put his hand on Sirius shoulder and gave him a reassuring smile.
“Hey.” Said Sirius on his way out. On the last couple months Sirius had took the liberty to step behind the front desk. He leaned against the desk, his leg brushing Remus arm.
“Hi, there.” Replied the other boy.
“Listen. There´s this Halloween party and James´s house and if you don´t have plans I was thinking maybe you´d like to come”
“Actually I was going to go trick or treating.” Said Remus deadpanned.
“Oh, yeah. Right… I- ”
“I was joking Sirius.” Smiled Remus. He had a dimple on his left cheek, Sirius noted. Both laughed at the awkwardness Sirius had felt.
“I don´t think you´ve ever called me by my name.” suddenly commented Sirius.
Remus stopped laughing. He scratched the back of his neck and look down at the keyboard of his computer.
“A shame isn´t it?” he asked so low Sirius had to lean a little to get close to him.
“Sorry, come again?”
“A shame I haven´t called you by your name, given is such a pretty name.” Remus lifted his eyes. Ember met gray trough long brown lashes. And for a minute there Sirius was positive the air had been sucked out of the room.
Remus did went to the party. By the end of the night there were two shadows who sat very close on one of James´s garden bench. They could be seen pressed together on the fresh air, lit only by the moon.
November 3, 1986
“Hey there dear Moons.” Saluted Sirius as he lean over the front desk to steal a peck from Remus.
“God, please don´t star calling me that.”
“I know you secretly love it.” Remus smiled. He indeed loved it. “So…” continued Sirius. “There´s this boring celebration James and Lily are hosting. I was wondering if you´d like to come?”
Deep down Sirius was nervous, he really wanted Remus to come.
“Sure when is it?” said Remus typing away on his computer. He was trying to hide a mischievous smiled that, had Sirius not been to nervous to notice, would have given Remus away.
“It´s… tonight.”
“Oh, sorry Pads.” Remus would not be able to contain his smile for much longer. “I´m busy tonight.”
Sirius face fell.
“Oh. I see…”
“Surprise!” screamed James, Lily and many of the architects appearing from behind the desks. Sirius jumped and turned around. Had he really missed all the people hiding? God, he had it bad for Remus.
“Guys!” he ran towards Lily and James to give them a hug. He received several pats on his back and a few congratulations cards from some architects he had met on the last few months. Sirius had become a constant presence on the office.
“Who wants some cake?” asked Remus.
Sirius turned around. Remus had lighted up a few candles on a cake and hap put a little party hat that, despite his height, made him look adorable.
“You are an evil man.” Whispered Sirius when he got beside the other boy.
“Maybe my gift will make it up to you.” Sirius lifted and eye brow and look Remus up and down. “Not that pervert!” said Remus.
Sirius laughed carelessly.
“Perhaps tonight” whispered Remus on his ears sending shivers through his spine. “But for now” he continued straightening himself back to his normal height “I´ll guess this will have to do.”
Remus gave Sirius a black case. Sirius admired it with a confuse look. Then he opened and his eyes went wide.
“James said you liked to paint. Hope these are alright although I´m sure you have a lot of talent regardless of the-“
Remus was cut by Sirius´s lip crashing on his. They have already kissed. But nothing like this kiss. This was deep, sweet and Remus wondered who he had spent 24 years without Sirius black by his side.
“Gay!” James screamed. “Hufph” he said when Lily elbowed his ribs. “Just kidding, Lilyflower, they know I love them both.”
“We know Jamie boy.” Said Sirius.
“It was about time.” Winked James.
December 24, 1986
They were all hanging at the Lily and Jame´s flat. Sirius and Remus had been going out officially for a month and 21 days. Not that anyone was counting.
“I really thought you didn´t like me.” Complained Sirius, twisting around so he can face his boyfriend properly. They were stretch out on the sofa, taking advantage of the fact that the guest had already left, and Sirius was lounging between the Remus´s arms.
“Are you kidding?! Even I could tell he was into you from day one!” laughed James.
“But you didn´t event spoke to me. I even brought dogs at some point-“
“You didn´t!” exclaimed Lily. She laughed so hard James had to hold her waist to stop her from falling from the armrest she was currently sitting on.
“I did! I thought he liked dogs-“
“I do like them.” Intervened Remus giving Sirius nose a peck.
“I guessed if you didn´t said anything about the dogs you´ll had to stop me from getting into Jamie´s office. Which you didn´t.” Remus and James exchanged a weird look. “Or even that time I came in roller skating. James was in a meeting and I nearly destroyed the glass doors and you still acted as if I was invisible.”
Another exchange of looks.
“What?” asked Sirius.
“You have to be crazy to think that I didn´t gave a heads up to every single worker on the building about you, Pads.” Said James, once again exchanging a look with Remus and this time Lily joined in.
“What?” he asked, this time more uncertain.
“James gave us a photo of you. He said you had a free pass and that no one should stop you from visiting him.” Explained Remus.
“That´s why you didn´t say anything to me?!” Remus nodded with an apologetical smile. Sirius turned to James. “I don´t know if I´m touched you ask everybody to let me in or mad that Remus and I could have been dating if it weren´t for your stupid free pass.”
“Hey! I didn´t told him he couldn´t speak to you, I just told him to let you in whenever you wanted” defended himself the messy haired boy.
“Well, s´pouse I can forgive you if the photograph you gave Remus is pretty” said Sirius sinking down on the sofa, making himself comfortable once again.
“Oh it was very pretty. From the moment he gave me your photo I was blown away. But nothing compared to when I actually saw you standing in front of the glass doors.” Said Remus while moving Sirius lightly in order to reach for his wallet.
Remus took out from said wallet a photo of Sirius. The raven haired boy has lightly smiling. It was a photo James had taken on their first trip to Egypt. Sirius was at the airport, his hair was slightly shorter and back then it was way wavier.
“You kept it in your wallet?” Sirius asked, his eyes shining with hopefulness.
“Er, yeah. At first I left it on my desk.” He explained embarrassed, as if stealing the photo was like stealing from James´s Company. “But then, last month I figured it would… I… it´s a nice photo”
“Remus John Lupin! I never pegged you as a romantic type” smirked Lily.
“That photo is very old.” Said Sirius looking at Remus directly. Their eyes were connected and it felt like they were observing each other souls. The bodies were close but their souls were even closer. “Hey Lils, mind taking Remus and I a picture? Then you can returned that outdated photo to James. And we can make two copies.”
“Confident on your looks are you?” teased Remus.
“Nah I just want a picture of me and my boyfriend on my wallet.”
Remus closed his eyes with a soft smile on his face. Sirius smiled while leaning in for a kiss.
And then a soft “click”.